Case packer



I. M. AMENTA CASE PACKER May 23, 1961 m m H 5 E m mm M w WO .w. NW, ILVEQ T m NW N #1 vm A 5 o L M Filed Jan. 14-, 1958 I. M. AMENTA May 23, 1961 CASE PACKER 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 14, 1958 INVENTOR ITAL O M- ATTQRNEYS y 3, 1961 1. M. AMENTA 2,985,321

CASE PACKER Filed Jan. 14, 1958 5 s s 5 65 INVENTOR ITALO M AMENTA BY 6% WM ATTORNEYS May 23, 1961 l. M. AMENTA CASE PACKER Filed Jan. 14, 1958 FIC3.7

5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR ITALO M. AME N'TA AT +0 R NEYS United States Patent CASE PACKER Italo M. Amenta, Middletown, Conn., assignor to Emhart Manufacturing Company, Hartford, Conn, a corporation of Delaware Filed Jan. 14, 1958, Ser. No. 708,801

9 Claims. (c1. 214-6) This invention relates to improvements in case packers and more particularly to a case packer of the kind which includes horizontally reciprocable pusher means operative to push each of successively presented rows of articles on a packing platform from a position in front of the retracted position of the pusher means in a direction on the platform transverse to the direction of the row, the pusher means being returned to its retracted or home position on completion of each forward, working stroke thereof.

Case packers of the kind referred to as constructed and used prior to the present invention and of which I am aware all have the shortcoming that considerable packing time is lost because oncoming articles to be packed are held up in their infeed supply lines not only while their pushers are being advanced on their working strokes but also until such pushers have been returned to their retracted or home positions after completion of their working strokes. This has placed an undesirably low limit on the number of cases that could be packed per minute by the use of such a prior case packer.

An object of the invention is to effect a substantial reduction in the lost packing time incident to the operation of a case packer of the kind referred to, whereby the case packing capability of such packer when its pusher is being operated at a given speed will be substantially increased.

Another object of the invention is to substantially increase the case-packing capability per unit of time of a case packer of the kind described when its pusher is operating at a given frequency and a given speed without need to increase either the frequency or the speed of the pusher movements.

A more specific object of the invention is the provision in a case packer of the kind described of novel pusher and pusher operating means and cooperatively associated, controlled article infeed means such that a succeeding row of articles can be fed by the infeed means to the required position in front of the retracted position of the pusher means while the latter is being returned to that position after completion of a forward, working stroke thereof in contact with the immediately preceding infed row of articles, whereby the improved packer has a substantially increased case-packing capabilityfi Other objects and advantages of the invention hereinafter will be pointed out or will be apparent from the following description of a practical embodiment of the invention, as shown in the acco 'p'anying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the improved packer, showing the novel pusher means thereof in full lines at the end 7 of a forward long stroke thereof and in dot-and-dash lines at its retracted or home position and showing a case in position to be loaded and also fragmentary portions of an infeed conveyor for articles and an'off-bearing or take-away conveyor for loaded cases, respectively;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the improved packer, show- 'ice ing its supporting framework structure and the drive mechanism for reciprocating the pusher means;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the upper part of the improved packer, showing the arrangement of the reciprocable pusher means and transversely movable article infeed restraining plate and fixed transverse guide rods at one end of the packing platform and the cooperative loadfunnel at the opposite end of such platform;

Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view at the plane indicated by lines 4-4 of Fig. 1, showing details of the cooperative pusher and article infeed means;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary relatively enlarged perspective view of an end portion of a cross bar which carries an upper pusher member and of means for mounting it for movement along a supporting rail;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view substantially along the line 6-6 of Fig. 2 to show details of a selective drive mechanism for moving the pusher means with short and long forward strokes at different times in the operation thereof;

Fig. 7 is a schematic and somewhat diagrammatic view of the main electrical and mechanical elements involved in effecting controlled operations of the pusher means and of the associated article infeed means; and

Figs. 8 to 12, inclusive, are similar side elevational views which show the positions of the push members at different stages in the operation of assembling a plurality of transverse rows of articles into a single-layer load on the packing platform and then pushing the load into a waiting case at the opposite end of the platform from the pusher, the case and certain transversely extending elements of the packer being shown in section.

The supporting framework of the improved packing machine may comprise a table structure, generally indicated at 1 in Fig. 2, which is adapted to stand on a floor 2 or other horizontal supporting surface and has a generally flat top 3, Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive. Mounted upon the supporting table 1 to overlie and be spaced a short distance thereabove is a packing platform 4, Figs. 1, 3 and 7, which may be a generally rectangular smoothsurfaced flat plate made of metal or any other suitable material.

Packing platform 4 is provided with a funnel 5 at one end thereof, Fig. 3, for use to guide a load of the articles to be packed into a case, exemplified by the carton 6, Figs. 1, 2, and 8 to 12, inclusive. This carton rests on a side thereof on a pivoted carton drop-off mechanism 7 when in its raised position as shown in Fig. 2, the open end of the carton then overlapping the funnel 5 to an extent which may be limited by contact of the leading edges of the open carton side flaps 6a with outturned abutments 8 on transversely spaced slightly tapered loadiguiding walls 9, Figs. 1 and 7, one such abutment also being shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

The bottom, indicated at 5a, Fig. 3, of the funnel may be an integral end extension of the packing platform 4 and the side walls 5b of such funnel may be integral extensions of the walls 9, these in turn being integral upturned side flanges on the platform 4. In the example shown, the funnel is rectangular in cross-sectional configuration since the case load to be guided thereby into the carton 6 will comprise a rectangular formation of rows of articles 10 which individually may be rectangul-ar.

The carton-supporting pivoted drop-ofl? mechanism 7 is of conventional construction and mode of operation and hence need not be described herein other than to point out that when such mechanism is in its lowered position, as shown by dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 2, a loaded case that has been lowered thereby will be deposited on the associated ofi-bearing roller conveyor 11.

The packing platform 4 may be mounted on the top 3 of the supporting table structure 1 by any suitable means. In the example shown, a pair of supporting brackets 12 on the table top 3 carries a transverse supporting beam 13 on which the packing platform 4 rests, Fig. 4, and is supported throughout its transverse extent at a place intermediate its length. Mounted on these brackets 12 are upwardly extending supporting members 14, Fig. 4, which, as shown by Fig. 3, flank the integral upturned Walls 9 on the platform and provide rigid supports to which such walls may be secured by any suitable known means, none shown. At its rearward end, the packing platform may be supported by upstanding blocks on the table top 3, one of such blocks being indicated at 15 in Fig. 2.

The upturned side walls 9 terminate at their ends remote from the funnel sufficiently in advance of the rear edge, indicated at 16 in Fig. 2, of the packing platform to provide a side entrance opening, indicated at 17, Figs. 1, 3 and 7, through which articles may be fed by line pressure of an oncoming line of such articles on an infeed conveyor 18, Figs. 1, 4 and 7.

The infeed conveyor 18 may comprise the upper stretch 19 of a conveyor belt 19a, Fig. 4, with which a dead plate 20 is cooperatively associated as shown in that view.

A belt 21, Figs. 1, 3 and 4, may be mounted above the infeed conveyor 18 to apply steadying downward pressure on the tops of the underneath articles on the infeed conveyor adjacent to the dead plate as shown in Fig. l.

The infeed conveyor 18 may be driven continuously but infeed of articles therefrom across the dead plate 20 into the packer to an initial position in front of the retracted or home position of the packer pusher means 22, Figs. 2,

3 and 8, may be interrupted at times by infeed line holdback means comprising a movably mounted clamping plate 23 located at one side of the delivery end of the infeed conveyor 18 and movable by a suitable electromechanical power unit 24 from a retracted position out of contact with articles on such conveyor to its projected position at which it contacts the adjacent side of the articles in front thereof and holds such articles firmly clamped between itself and a stationary clamping plate 25 which is located at the opposite side of the delivery end of the infeed conveyor. Any other suitable known form of article infeed interrupting device may be employed in lieu of this particular infeed line hold-back means.

The dead plate 20 may have parallel projecting finger portions 20a, Figs. 3 and 4, extending across the adjacent lateral edge portion of the packing platform 4. The upper surface of the dead plate is level with the article carrying surface of the infeed conveyor, as is customary. The level of these surfaces is suificiently above that of the packing platform 4 to provide for smooth infeed movement of the articles from the dead plate onto a thin pusher plate 26 when the latter has been slid forward on the packing platform by a working stroke of the pusher means, as hereinafter explained. The upper surfaces of the pusher plate 26, the dead plate 20, and the upper article bearing stretch 19 of the infeed conveyor belt 19a are thus all at the same level as is clear from Fig. 4.

The pusher mechanism 22 comprises a slide block 27 resting upon the supporting table top 3 so that it may be moved back and forth thereon along a path extending between parallel retaining guide strips 28, Figs. 2 and 4. Projecting upwardly from the rearward portion of the slide block 27 is a rigid vertical arm 29 which is approximately U-shaped in horizontal cross section and is open at its rearward side as best seen in Fig. 7. The pusher plate. 26 has a wide notched or re-entrant portion 30 at its rearward edge intermediate its width. The upwardly projecting arm 29 on the slide block 27 extends through this notched or re-entrant portion 30 between blocks 31 which are rigidly connected with the pusher plate, as by welding. A cross pin 32 extends through the blocks 31 andthe interposed slide block member 29 and may hingedly connect the pusher plate to the slide block, the pusher plate being maintained substantially horizontal, however, by reason of support given it by the packing platform 4 on which it may slide.

When the slide block 27 is in itsretracted or home position as shown in Fig. 2, only a narrow forward edge portion of the pusher plate will rest on the packing platform. The forward edge of the pusher plate is located at that time slightly to the rear of a transverse vertical plane passing through the centers of vertically spaced, transversely aligned, fixed position, lower and upper article guide rods 33 and 34, respectively. Articles fed by the infeed conveyor 18 across the dead plate 20 and onward by line pressure will slide along these guide rods as they are moved in a transverse row extending across the rearward end portion of the packing platform 4. A normally projected movable trip element 35 of a switch mechanism 36 is located at the opposite end of the path of move ment of such transverse row from the article entrance opening 17.

A movable article infeed restraining plate 37 is carried by a down-turned flange portion 38 of a right-angular carrier plate 39 which has a generally horizontal main portion 40 from which depend three vertically disposed grooved rollers 41, two of which are in rolling contact with the forward side of a transversely disposed supporting rail 42 While the third is in similar contact with the rearward side of that rail. The restraining plate 37 is thus disposed in position to be contacted by the leading one of each row of articles being fed by line pressure across the space above the rearward end portion of the packing platform 4. The plate 37 is movable under the line pressure transmitted thereto by the leading one of a row of infed articles but will oppose suflicient resistance to such movement to keep the articles of such infed row clamped tightly together in line. The plate 37 will return to its initial or home position in the entrance opening 17 when freed from pressure from the line of oncoming articles and the space above the rear end portion of the packing platform 4 has been cleared of articles so as to permit such return. In the example shown, a cable 43 is fastened at one end to the restraining plate carrier 39 and, after passing over a pulley 44 on the machine framework at the article infeed. side of. the packing platform, extends downwardly to a weight 45, Fig. 4, which it suspends for guided vertical movements in a casing 46 in response to the traversing movements of the restraining plate 37. Any other suitable known means may be employed to automatically return the restraining plate 37 to its home position in the article entrance opening 17 when conditions permit and to yieldingly permit the plate to be moved by the leading one of an advancing row of articles across the space above the rearward end portion of the packing platform 4. V

When the plate 37 arrives at the far side of the packing platform from the entrance opening 17, it will strike and operate the switch actuator 35. This will initiate a sequence of operations of various parts of the packer as hereinafter will be explained. However, before such explanation is given, the pusher'means and associated elements of the packer will be described.

The pusher means includes an upper pusher member 47 in addition to the lower pusher plate 26. This upper pusher member 47 is mounted so as to be moved bodily With the lower pusher plate when the slide block 27 is moved back and forth along its path on the supporting table top 3 and also for independent rocking movement about a transversely extending horizontal axis. As shown, the structure for supporting the upper pusher member 47 comprises a cross bar 48, Figs. 1 and 3, having its opposite ends provided with roller carrying brackets 49, one of which is shown in detail in Fig. 5. As shown therein, such bracket carries an upper roller 50 and a lower roller 51 in contact with upper and lower sides of a longitudinally extending supporting'rail 52, respectively, the end portion of the cross bar 48 being undercut at 48a to accommodate the rail 52 and a longitudinal supporting beam 53 therefor. A roller 54 which also is carried by the bracket 49 bears against the outer side of the rail 52 so as to prevent any unintended inward displacement of the cross bar 48 as it moves along the rails 52. As best seen in Fig. 3, the rail-carrying longitudinal beams 53 are mounted on the supporting framework of the packer at opposite sides of the space above the packing platform 4.

The cross bar 48 is provided with a pair of spaced forwardly projecting short arms or lugs 55 which are bored transversely to provide bearings for a transverse rock shaft 56 which thus is supported slightly in advance of the cross bar 48 for movement therewith. The rock shaft 56 has aapair of forwardly extending supporting arms 57 rigid therewith and these are secured, as by welding, to the back of the upper pusher member 47. The pusher member 47 is right angular in cross section with its upper flange 47a turned forward and its other flange, 47b, turned downward for a purpose to be presently explained.

The cross bar 48 is rigidly connected, as by welding, to the forward ends of a pair of rearwardly projecting tubular connectors 58. The rearward end portions of these members extend through split collars 59 which are joined by oppositely extending short rigid arms 60 to a central vertically disposed split collar 61 on the upper end portion of a vertical post 62. Post 62, which may be tubular for the sake of lightness, is coupled to the slide block 27. As shown in Fig. 2., a coupling head 63 fits in part into the upright channel portion 29 of the pusher slide block 27 and the cross pin 32 may be used to connect head 63 to the channel 29. The coupling head 63 has a web portion 63:: extending vertically along the lower portion of the post 62 and rigidly joined thereto, as by welding or in any other suitable known manner.

By the arrangement just described, the cross bar 48 is rigidly connected with the slide block 27 so as to be moved bodily therewith. The pivotal connection of the upper pusher member 47 with the slide bar 48, effected through the provision of the rock shaft 56 and its mounting on the cross bar 48, permits the upper pusher member to be rocked about the axis of the rock shaft between a relatively raised position as shown by full lines in Fig. 2 which is above the level of the tops of the articles on the packing plate and a lowered position at which the upper flange 47a of the upper member bears against the tops of the underneath articles as shown by the dot-anddash line position in Fig. 2. For controlling the rocking movements of the upper pusher member 47 and to effect such movements when appropriate, the rock shaft 56 is provided with an upwardly extending rigid arm '64 operatively connected to the movable element 65 of an electropneumatic power unit 66 which is mounted by a bracket 67 on the cross bar 48. The timing and function of the rocking movements of the upper pusher member 47 will hereinafter be further explained.

The operating mechanism for reciprocating the slide block 27 and hence the packer pusher means comprises a pusher stroke lever 68, Fig. 2, connected at its upper end appropriately by a link 69 with the front portion of the slide block 27. The lever 68 is connected at its opposite end by a free pivot 70 with one end of a connecting rod 71, the opposite end of which is mounted on a crank pin 72 of a crank 73 carried by a short crank shaft 74, Fig. 6. The pivot shaft 70 is carried by a pair of swingable hanger bars 75, Fig. 6, the upper ends of which are pivotally supported on the framework of the machine, as by a pivotal connection as indicated at 76 in Fig. 2 of the upper end of one of these hanger bars 75 with a fixed position block 77.

The pusher stroke lever 68 has a pivotal connection at a higher level, as indicated at 78, Figs. 2 and 6, with a connecting rod 79, theopposite end of which is attached to a crank pin 80 on a crank 81 carried by a second crank shaft 82, Fig. 6, which is aligned with the 6 crank shaft 74. The crank shafts 74 and 82 are normally at rest and are driven at different times, each for a single revolution at a time, under the control of selective driving means presently to be described. When the crank shaft 74 is rotated through a single revolution, the stroke lever 68 will be swung about its pivotal connection at 78 with the connecting rod 79 as a fulcrum so that its upper end portion will move forward to the arcuate extent indicated by the letter S in Fig. 2 and back to its starting position. This will effect a short forward stroke of the pusher means and return of such pusher means to its retracted or home position. When, however, the crank shaft 82, Fig. 6, is driven, the stroke lever 68 will be swung from its starting position forward to the extent indicated by the letter L in Fig. 2 and back to its starting position, thus effecting a long forward stroke of the pusher means and return thereof to its retracted or home position. In swinging to effect this long stroke, the lever 68 will be swung by the connecting rod 79 about the pivot shaft 70 as a fulcrum.

The aligned crank shafts 74 and 82 are journaled suitjably by means of bearings 83 provided in conveniently located portions of the frame structure 1 or adjuncts thereof. As shown in Fig. 6, a gear 84 is loose on crank shaft 82 and has its teeth in mesh with a driving gear 85 on a suitably journaled driven shaft 86. The shaft 86 is driven through a normally active clutch mechanism indicated at 87, the driving part of which is driven by a chain and sprocket transmission arrangement indicated generally at 88, Figs. 2 and 6, deriving motion from a speed reduction unit 89, Fig. 2. The latter may be driven by a suitably connected motor, not shown.

When such motor is operating, the gear 84 will be driven continuously. The selective driving of the crank shaft 82 is effected through a single-revolution clutch 90 comprising a peripherally notched ratchet wheel 91 which is mounted on the hub of the gear 84 to turn therewith. An associated pawl carrier 92 is keyed, as at 93, Fig. 6, to the shaft 82 and carries a pivoted pawl 94 which tends to engage the notches of the ratchet wheel 91 and to be driven thereby. However, this pawl 94 will be held out of engagement with the ratchet wheel 91 by a pawl engaging stop element 95 on a swingable arm 96 which is operatively connected by a lever and link arrangement as indicated at 97, Fig. 7, with the movable part 98 of a solenoid 99. When the solenoid 99 is energized, the swingable latch-out arm 96 will be swung to move the stop element 95 away from the pivoted pawl 94 so that the latter will engage with the rotating ratchet wheel 91 to effect a revolutionof the shaft 82. Rotation of this shaft 82 will be stopped on completion of a revolution by the stop element 95 which will be returned immediately to its active position after having been momentarily freed from the pawl by the control solenoid.

The crank shaft 74 is provided with similar means effective through a single revolution clutch 90'. This clutch 90' includes a peripherally notched constantly driven wheel 91', Figs. 6 and 7, and a driven clutch part comprising a pawl carrier 92 fastened to the shaft 74 and carrying a pivoted paw] 94' for engaging a notch in the periphery of the wheel 91' when permitted to do so by a temporary out-of-the-way position of a stop 95 carried by a pawl latch-out pivoted arm 96. This arm is connected through a lever and linkage arrangement 97 with the movable element 98' of a solenoid 99'. The latched wheel 91' is driven continuously by motion imparted thereto through the enmeshed gears 84' and 85', Fig. 6.

In operating the packer having the novel pusher mechanism and time saving mode of operation provided by the present invention, the starting conditions may include priming the machine by placing a transverse row of the articles 10 to be packed in the funnel 5 at the mouth of the carton 6 to be loaded, as shown in Fig. 8. The

machine motor having been started and the infeed line 7 holdback means 2325, Figs. 1 and 7, being open,

articles will be moved by line pressure through the side entrance opening 17, Fig. 3, against the restraining plate 37, which will be moved thereby transversely across the space above the rearward end portion of the packing platform 4 until such plate strikes and actuates the movable switch actuator 35, Fig. 4. This will provide a transverse row of infed articles in front of the retracted or home position of the packer pusher means as indicated at a in Fig. 8.

Switch mechanism 36 includes a normally open switch represented diagrammatically at 100 in Fig. 7 which will be closed by this actuation of element 35 so as to provide operating electric current through connections indicated diagrammatically at 101 to the electro-pneumatic power unit 24. This will activate the latter so that the movable article clamping plate 23 operable thereby will be projected forward to its active position as shown in Fig. 7, thus holding a plurality of the intervening oncoming articles clamped securely between itself and the stationary clamping plate 25 and stopping further ingress of articles 10 from the infeed line to the packing area.

The switch mechanism 36- has another normally open switch, indicated diagrammatically at 102, Fig. 7, which also will be closed by the aforesaid actuation of switch control member 35 so that operating current will be supplied through conducting means indicated diagrammatically by the line 103 to the electro-pneumatic power unit 66 for rocking the upper pusher member 47. This will cause the pusher member 47 to be lowered from a relatively raised position above the level of the articles to the position at which the upper flange 47a thereof will press downward on the tops of the infed line of articles 10 as shown in Fig. 8. This will preclude sticking of such articles, or any of them, at their infeed level and will assure their positioning on the slightly lower level packing platform 4 in position to be struck and positively propelled by the leading edge of the pusher plate when the latter is advanced on a working stroke thereof.

The downward rocking of the upper pusher member 47 will be attended by a rocking of the rock shaft 56 so that a short downwardly extending arm 103 thereon will strike and operate a switch arm 104 for closing a normally open switch 105, Fig. 7.

The input side of switch 105 is connected electrically with a source of electric current supply indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 7 by the line 106. The output side of switch 105 is connected by electrical conductors represented by the line 107 with the input sides of switches indicated at 108 and 109, respectively, of a switch mechanism 110, Fig. 7. The switches 108 and 109 are provided with a common swingableswitch arm 111 carried by a rock shaft 112 which is rockable about its axis by an operating arm 113 projecting therefrom. Normally, the switch arm 111 tends to assume the position shown by full lines in Fig. 7 which will close the switch 109 and leave the switch 108 open. It may, however, be swung to the dot-and-dash line position, at which switch 109 will be open and switch 108 will be closed.

The swinging movements of switch arm 111 from its full line position to its dot-and-dash position of Fig. 7 may occur at predetermined regular intervals controlled by a timing mechanism indicated generally at 114, comprising a peripherally toothed counting wheel 115 mounted to rotate about the axis of a shaft 116 which is parallel with the rock shaft 112. An arm 117 is loose on the shaft 116 and carries a driving pawl 118 engageable with any one of the teeth 115a in the periphery of the wheel 115 to index the wheel counterclockwise an angular distance equal to that between two adjacent teeth of the wheel when the arm 117 is swung counterclockwise about the axis of shaft 116 from the full line position of Fig. 7 to the dot-and-dash line position of the same View. When the arm 117returns to its starting position against a fixed stop 119, under the urging of a connected 'tacted teeth a.

spring 120, the driving pawl 118 will ride over the con- A holding pawl 121 will prevent return or clockwise rotary movement of the Wheel 115.

The arm 117 will be given a swinging movement as just described each time it is struck by a striker rod 122 which projects laterally from the pusher slide block 27 in position to strike such arm each time the pusher slide block is returned to its home position after a working stroke of the pusher means.

The output side of the switch 109 is connected by electrical conductive means represented by the line 123, Fig. 7, with the solenoid 99 for throwing in the singlerevolution clutch mechanism which comprises the peripherally notched wheel 91 and its driven pawl 94'. This will effect a short working stroke of the pusher means.

The toothed wheel 115 is provided on one face thereof with a circular series of regularly spaced projecting striker elements 124. The angular spacing between each two adjacent elements 124 is equal to the angular extent of three consecutive teeth of the wheel in the example shown. When the wheel 115 has been indexed counterclockwise twice by two successive short strokes of the pusher mechanism, the next or third stroke of such mechanism will be attended by contact of one of the striker elements 124 with a roller 113a on the free end of swingable arm 113, whereby to operate the latter so as to swing the switch arm 111 to the dot-and-dash line position shown in Fig. 7. This will close switch 108. The output side of switch 108 is connected electrically by suitable conducting means represented by the line 125, Fig. 7, with the solenoid 99 which operates the single-revolution clutch mechanism 96, 95, 94, 91, to effect a long stroke of the pusher.

Any suitable known control mechanism may be used in lieu of the specific mechanism just described to con trol the operations of the pusher mechanism so that each of repeated series of movements of the pusher means will consist of a predetermined number of relatively short strokes followed by a long stroke thereof.

When a short stroke of the pusher means is to be produced, the switch 109 will be closed as aforesaid. The output side of this switch is connected by suitable electrically conductive means represented by the line 126 with the input side of a switch indicated at 127 in Fig. 7. Switch 127 is included in a switch assembly 123. The output side of switch 127 is connected electrically as represented by the line 129 with the electro-pneumatic power unit 66 for rocking the upper pusher member 47 up and down. An operating arm 130 for the switch assembly 128 is disposed in position to be struck and operated by a laterally projecting rigid striker rod 131 on the pusher slide block 27 just before completion of each short stroke of the pusher means. With the switch 109 closed, current will be supplied through the switch 127 when its operating arm 130 is struck by rod 131 to the electropneumatic power unit 66 which will thus be rendered effective to raise the upper pusher member 47 from the full line position to the dotted line position of Fig. 7. This will raise this upper pusher member to a height above that of the incoming articles which thus may be fed into the load-assembly area in a row extending transversely across the lower pusher plate while the latter is being retracted after completion of a working stroke thereof. Such infeed movement of articles may occur since operation of the switch arm 130 by the striker rod 131 will also operate a second switch, represented at 132 in the switch mechanism 128. This switch 132 is connected electrically by conductive means represented by the line 133 with the electro-pneumatic power unit 24 and when operated as just described will render power unit 24 effective to retract the article clamping plate 23 and thus permit resumption of infeed of articles by the supply line.

Each short stroke of the pusher means will advance a transverse row of articles on the platform from the position indicated at a in each of Figs. 8 and 10 to the position indicated at b in Figs. 9, 10 and 11. Each previously advanced row of articles will, of course, be pushed a head one step by the succeeding row so that when two of the short strokes of the pusher have been effected, the first of the infed rows advanced by the pusher will have been moved to the position in Fig. 11, at which it will bear against the row of articles that was placed on the platform at the mouth of the Waiting case at the beginning of operations.

The case 6 is adapted to receive three transverse rows of the articles and a long stroke of the pusher may now be employed to propel the load comprising the priming row and the rows at c and b, respectively, into the case and to position a further transverse row of the articles in the priming position as the advance row of the next'load for which a new case will be provided.

As hereinbefore has been explained, the timing mechanism 114, Fig. 7, will be effective to open the switch 109 and close the switch 108 after each two successive short strokes of the pusher means. The switch 127 of switch mechanism 128 will thus be disabled to raise the upper pusher on contact of the striker rod 131 with the trigger 130 of such switch mechanism. The stroke of the pusher will continue until such rod strikes a trigger 134 of a switch mechanism 135 which includes a switch 136 having its input side connected at 137 with the output side of switch 108 and its output side connected at 138 with the electro-pneumatic power unit 24. Switch mechanism 135 also includes a switch 139 connected electrically at 140 with the electro-pneumatie power unit 66. Thus, at the end of the long stroke of the pusher means, the upper pusher member 41 will be raised and the article hold-back means 23, 25 will be opened to permit entry of the next transverse row of articles from the waiting line across the retracting pusher plate. The operation to effect loading of the case by the long pusher stroke is indicated by the showing of Fig. 12, such long stroke having just been completed.

The loaded case will be lowered onto the take-away conveyor and operations may continue to effect loading of successive cases at a high rate. In practice, a case packer having a packing capability of approximately 260 cartons per minute for a particular carton and pack arrangement has been improved by incorporation and use therein of the novel pusher mechanism and load forming and packing method of the present invention so that its packing capability for the same carton and pack arrangement has been increased to approximately 360 cartons per minute. A much slower packer has thus been converted into a high speed machine.

It will be understood that in practicing the invention as hereinbefore described with reference to a particular illustrative embodiment thereof, any suitable or preferred known electrical circuit and adjuncts or accessories may be employed to provide the cooperative functioning of the mechanical and pneumatic or other power components of the improved packer, including relays, limit switches, power throw-out switches and other known safeguards to assure efiicient operation and prevent damage in the event of some unintended or accidental interference therewith or disruption thereof.

The cases to be packed may have various known forms and constructions and be made of various known materials. The articles to be packed may be of various kinds including containers made of paper, plastic, metal and other known materials and containing various powdered, granular, liquid or other known commodities or other substances.

The upper pusher member and its connections with the slide for operating the lower pusher member may be dispensed with in a machine which is otherwise as hereinbefore described when the articles to be packed are sufliciently individually stable and form retaining to be 10 "pushed on the packing platform by the pusher plate alone and are sufliciently heavy to descend by reason of their own weight from the slightly higher infeed level to the packing platform in front of the pusher plate when position of such plate will permit such descent.

Many modifications of and changes in the illustrative embodiment of the invent-ion as hereinbefore particularly described will now be obvious to or readily occur to those skilled in the art and the invention therefore is not to be limited to the precise details of such embodiment.

I claim:

1. In a case packer, a substantially rectangular packing platform, a substantially rectangular pusher plate mounted to move longitudinally of the packing platform close to the upper surface thereof from a retracted position at which the leading edge of the pusher plate is adjacent to one end of the platform to a projected position at which the leading edge of said pus-her plate has been advanced toward the opposite end of the platform, and then back to said retracted position, a dead plate located adjacent to a' portion of a side edge of the packing platform in advance of the transverse line of the leading edge of the fully retracted pusher plate and having an upper surface substantially flush with the upper surface of the pusher plate, an infeed conveyor for feeding articles onto and across the dead plate along a path extending transversely across the packing platform in advance of the retracted position of the leading edge of the pusher plate and at a level sufiiciently above the packing platform to be unobstructed by the pusher plate if the latter has not been returned to its retracted position at the time of such feeding, a movable infeed restraining plate having a home position above said dead plate in position to be cont-acted by the leading article fed by the infeed conveyor onto the dead plate and to be forced by line pressure exerted through the contacting article along said path to the opposite side of said packing platform, and means rendered effective by the arrival of said restraining plate at said last named side of the packing platform to interrupt feed of articles from the infeed conveyor across the dead plate.

2. In a case packer, the combination specified by claim 1 wherein said last named means comprises a pair of cooperative relatively movable clamping plates respectively disposed at opposite sides of oncoming articles on the infeed conveyor at the dead plate end of the latter, operating means to elfect relative movements between said clamping plates to clamp and release the articles therebetween, and a movable control element positioned in the path of the restraining plate at the side of the packing platform opposite the dead plate so as to be struck by such restraining plate on arrival there and actuated to operate said operating means to effect clamping by said clamping plates of the articles therebetween.

3. In a case packer, the combination specified by claim 1 wherein said restraining plate is continuously subjected to a force opposing said line pressure and yieldable thereto, whereby the articles of each infed row extending transversely across the packing platform will tend to remain at the infeed level while subjected to such opposing forces and the restraining plate will be returned to its home position over the dead plate when the infed row has been shifted forwardly on the packing platform sufiiciently to clear a path for such return of the restraining plate.

4. In a case packer, the combination specified by claim 3 and in addition, means to exert downward pres sure on the articles of an infed row extending transversely packing platform between a retracted position at which the leading edge portion of the pusher plate is adjacent to an end portion of the platform and a projected position at which said leading edge portion of the pusher plate has been advanced longitudinally of the platform toward the opposite end of the latter, operating means for the pusher plate to effect in each of repeated cycles a plurality of short forward strokes of such pusher plate followed by a long forward stroke thereof, all such forward strokes being from the retracted position of the pusher plate longitudinally of the packing platform toward the opposite end of the latter, means to feed successive transverse rows of articles to a position extending across the packing platform in front of the position of the leading edge of the fully retracted pusher plate and at a level sufliciently above that of the packing platform to permit feeding of such a transverse row to be commenced before the pusher plate has been retracted after completing a forward stroke thereof, a transversely disposed pusher bar supplemental to the pusher plate and located at a predetermined higher level above the level of the packing platform, said pusher bar being mounted to have forward and return strokes in unison with the lower pusher plate and so that it also may be given limited upward and downward movements between relatively raised and lowered positions thereof independently of the pusher plate, and means controlled in relation to the reciprocatory movements of the pusher plate to raise the pusher bar to its raised position on completion of each of said forward strokes of the pusher elements and to maintain it in said raised position during the succeeding return stroke thereof so as to clear oncoming articles of the next infed transverse row and to lower it at the beginning of the next forward stroke of said pusher elements so as first to engage and press downwardly on the rearward portions of the tops of the articles of the transverse row to be pushed and then also to engage the upper portions of the rear Walls of such articles during the forward pushing stroke of the pusher elements.

6. In a case packer, a table having a top, a packing platform mounted on the table so as to be spaced above the table top, a pusher plate having a leading edge extending transversely of the platform, a block movable on the table top and mounting said pusher plate for reciprocatory movements on the packing platform between a retracted position at which leading edge portion of the pusher plate is adjacent to an end portion of the platform and a projected position at which the leading edge portion has been advanced longitudinally of the packing platform toward the opposite end of the latter, means for moving said block to effect in each of repeated cycles a plurality of relatively short forward strokes of the pusher plate followed by a longer forward stroke thereof, all such forward strokes being from the retracted position of the pusher plate longitudinally of the packing platform toward said opposite end thereof, an upright carried by said block so as to be rigid therewith, a fore-and-aft and vertically adjustable cross bar mounted on said post so as to be positioned in advance of said post, rollers on the ends of said cross bar, rails against which said rollers bear, a rockshaft mounted on said cross bar in advance thereof and parallel therewith, rocker arms projecting forwardly from said shaft, a transversely disposed pusher bar carried by said rocker arms, and a power unit mounted on said cross bar and having a movable part operatively connected with the rock shaft so as to rock the latter about its axis to move the transverse pusher bar between relatively raised and lowered positions thereof, said transverse pusher bar being angular in cross section so as to provide a forwardly extending flange adapted to engage and exert downward pressure on the rearward portions of the tops of a below-positioned row of infed articles when the transverse pusher bar is swung downwardly to its lowered position and a depending flange adapted to bear against the upper portions of the rearward walls of such articles when the pusher bar is in its lowered position and is being moved forward by a forward movement of said block.

7. In a case packer, a packing platform on which articles to be packed may stand and he slid, article pusher means comprising a thin flat pusher plate having a leading edge which extends across the platform, said plate being movable longitudinally of the platform close to the upper surface thereof from and to a retracted position adjacent one end thereof, means to feed such articles in a row along a path extending transversely across the platform in advance of the retracted position of the pusher plate at a level suficiently higher than the plane of the pusher plate to permit such feeding to be commenced prior to return of the pusher plate to its retracted position after completion of a forward stroke thereof, and means adapted to exert downward pressure on the articles of an infed row extending transversely across the packing platform whereby to positively force said articles downwardly from the infeed level onto the packing platform when the pusher plate has been retracted from a position beneath said articles to its fully retracted position rearwardly thereof.

8. In a case packer, a packing platform on which articles to be packed may stand and be slid, article pusher means comprising a thin fiat pusher plate having a leading edge which extends across the platform, said plate being movable longitudinally of the platform close to the upper surface thereof from and to a retracted position adjacent one end thereof, means to feed such articles in a row along a path extending transversely across the platform in advance of the retracted position of the pusher plate at a level sufiiciently higher than the plane of the pusher plate to permit such feeding to be commenced prior to return of the pusher plate to its retracted position after completion of a forward stroke thereof, and a transversely extending pusher element supplemental to the pusher plate and located at a predetermined higher level above the level of the packing platform, such pusher element being adapted for movement relative to the platform in unison with the pusher plate and being further adapted for movement independently of the pusher plate to a raised position in which it clears a row of articles standing on the pusher plate or the packing platform and to a lowered position in which it engages such a row of articles.

9. In a case packer, a packing platform on which articles to be packed may stand and be slid, a thin fiat pusher plate mounted for movements relative to the platform and close to the upper surface thereof from a retracted position of the pusher plate in which its leading edge extends across the platform adjacent to one end of the latter longitudinally of the platform and back to its said retracted position, and'means to feed such articles in a row along a path extending transversely across the platform in advance of the retracted position of the pusher plate and substantially at the level of the upper surface thereof whereby to permit such feeding to be commenced prior to return of the pusher plate to its retracted position after completion of a forward stroke thereof, and an upper pusher member spaced above said pusher plate and movable longitudinally of said platform for engaging and pushing a row of articles therealong in concert with said pusher plate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,300,010 Porter Apr. 8, 1919 2,556,469 Dahms June 12, 1951 2,586,172 Murphy Feb. 19, 1952 2,606,483 Forbes Aug. 12, 1952 2,651,896 Woodruff et a1. Sept. 15, 1953 2,828,871 Bardsley Apr. 1, 1958 

